Big Steep Orca

THE day to be out in the lizard range. Below 1500m yet another breakable temperature crust exists in the upper 15 cm of HST. Above 1500m there is 40-60cm of new snow above the march 10 crust. The mar 10 crust is 5-10cm thick and supportive up to ridgetop. We observed several recent Na storm slabs up to sz 1 from steep rocky features. And a few Na dry loose from headwalls this am with solar input and active wind loading. Air temperature rose steadily thru the day and solar slopes saw strong input from the sun. We didn’t notice any significant warming of the snow surface due to steady light wind. Ridetop winds increased to moderate W-SW in the pm. Snow transport increased to moderate at 11am and by 2pm was holding snow in turbulent suspension under headwall features. We skied open trees and supported alpine slopes up to 40° on NW and NE aspects below 1950m and had a great day out in the sunshine!